Russell Crowe, Liam and Luke Hemsworth to film action movie Land of Bad in Queensland

Queensland’s gold streak of filming has continued with A-listers Russell Crowe and Liam Hemsworth, alongside his brother Luke, set to film an action blockbuster on the Gold Coast this month

Queensland will host Australian acting A-listers Russell Crowe and Liam Hemsworth with war epic Land of Bad to film on the Gold Coast this month.

The latest filming coup for the state will unite Hemsworth on screen with his actor brother Luke and comes after the homegrown stars encouraged American producers to look to Australia as a location.

Also starring Daniel MacPherson and Milo Ventimiglia, the production was secured for Queensland through a $3.9 million cash injection from the Federal Government’s Location Incentive. Screen Queensland added further support through its Production Attraction Strategy.

It will inject $7.7 million into the local economy and create 270 jobs for local cast, crew and extras.

Actor Russell Crowe will play an air force drone operator guiding a botched rescue operation. Photo: Nathan Edwards

Crowe and Liam, the youngest of the three Hemsworth brothers, were first linked to the film in April, having worked together on Crowe’s own project, Poker Face, in Sydney last year.

“We first announced the film during one of the sales markets and what excited us about Australia was that we could find all our locations within a contained area and knew the cast would be thrilled to work at home,” producer Michael Jefferson told The Courier-Mail.

“They were encouraging us to make it in Australia.

“But it wasn’t until we started looking at where in Australia that it became clear that Queensland was the place to be.

“Queensland locations just make sense given their proximity to crew and facilities.”

Land of Bad follows Crowe as Reaper, an air force drone pilot supporting a Delta ops rescue mission in the Philippines, which goes awry and leaves green JTAC Kinney, played by Liam, in the middle of a high-stakes extraction.

Luke and Liam Hemsworth will co-star in war film Land of Bad in Queensland. Photo: Instagram

Older brother Luke Hemsworth will play the tier-one team’s sergeant Abel while Ventimiglia is its captain, Sugar.

Post-production and visual effects will also be completed in Australia, with a focus on engaging local workers and businesses throughout the production.

“We have been hiring locals across our cast and crew because they are as good as you can get anywhere in the world,” Jefferson said.

Federal Arts Minister Tony Burke said Land of Bad would maintain Australia’s reputation as a global leader on the international stage.

“Every film we attract to Australia provides local workers with the opportunity to showcase their skills to the rest of the world. It also showcases amazing Australian landscapes to an international audience,” he said.

Milo Ventimiglia will travel to Queensland for filming. Photo: Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images

The film is from American director Will Eubank, who co-wrote the script with David Frigerio, while it will be led locally by Brisbane’s Hoodlum Entertainment, which will executive-produce.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said: “Queensland continues to shine off and on screen, which is why producers are returning to our state and local production companies are gaining global reputations.”

Other key cast include Ricky Whittle (American Gods) and Chika Ikogwe (Heartbreak High).

Land of Bad joins a number of high-profile productions under way in South East Queensland, with Disney+ series Nautilus, the Godzilla vs Kong sequel and Netflix’s Boy Swallows Universe all currently filming in the region.

Meanwhile Queensland’s newest blockbuster Ticket to Paradise with George Clooney and Julia Roberts had its world premiere in London on Wednesday, ahead of the romantic comedy’s theatrical release next week.

Originally published as Russell Crowe, Liam and Luke Hemsworth to film action movie Land of Bad in Queensland